The two of them hadn’t spoken much since that occurrence outside of Kaz’s apartment building, and Zane wasn’t seeing a reason to change that fact. They’d never been close.
“Every member of the Retinue has tried my restaurant except you,” Pavel said. “Don’t you think that’s odd?”
“Not any more so than the fact you’re trying so hard to keep me here.” Zane came to an abrupt halt in front of the elevators. “What is it? Clearly you need something from me, otherwise you wouldn’t be wasting either of our time like this.”
Pavel’s expression was inscrutable, but Zane somehow got the feeling he’d hit a nerve, and for the life of him, he couldn’t understand how or why.
“Is that how you view this exchange?” Pavel’s tone was flat. “As a waste of your time?”
Zane opened his mouth only to be interrupted by the ding of his multi-slate.
Samuel:She is waiting.
“I have to go.” Zane hit the button at the elevator with a little more force than necessary, only catching that he was giving himself away once the deed was done. He cleared his throat and straightened, summoning that calm outer exterior he was known for. “Thank you for the invite, but I have dinner reservations already.”
“Do you?” Pavel cocked his head, but once the elevator arrived, he seemed to shed the enigmatic air all at once. With a polite smile, he held a hand out toward the opening doors. “By all means, we wouldn’t want to keep them waiting then. Get home safely, Doctor.”
He nodded and stepped inside, tension still rising as the numbers over the now closed doors slowly ticked down.
Zane was already halfway to his car before it occurred to him that he’d never said his dinner plans were at the Little Palace.
And yet somehow, Pavel had known.
Chapter 2:
Zane rarely went out, which was why he inwardly cursed his luck Friday evening when he found himself stuck at Fornication, the crowded bar downtown. They were on the upper level, overlooking the rest of the establishment, most of the Retinue in attendance to celebrate the Royal Consort's birthday.
At a bar.
It was everything he could do to keep his composure as there were hoots and hollers behind him—Rin’s cadet friends from the Academy. His twin brother was there too, as well as one of the professors from Vail, Bay Delmar, but the two of them seemed every bit as uninterested in being here as Zane was, sitting off in the corner, whispering to each other as though the rest of them didn’t exist.
Probably for the best. Zane had noticed Sila Varun’s…oddities, these past few months. Ever since Kelevra and Rin had gotten together, Sila’s presence had also been more notable, making it hard for Zane not to pick up on one or two…quirks.
He had enough on his plate without adding yet another psychopath or sociopath to this fucked up family of theirs.
And he and Kelevra were family, even if that connection was due to the fact he’d been sold off by his parents and gifted tothe Imperial Prince the same way one might gift a pet. He’d be more bitter about it, but truthfully, being with Kel was a million times better than remaining with Mr. and Mrs. Solace.
“This is a shitty place to hold a meeting,” Ledger Undergrove said, not bothering to hide his distaste from his tone. He was standing next to Zane at the balcony, sipping some purple drink that was bound to destroy the man’s internal organs eventually.
He and Pavel were brothers, though they were the same age and had different last names. His parents, the Undergroves, had adopted Pavel a long time ago, but the two acted and treated each other like they were real blood.
Zane had always admired that about them.
And secretly envied their relationship.
“We’re at a birthday party,” Zane reminded.
Ledge clicked his tongue. “Shitty place to hold a birthday too.’
“Tell that to Rin.”
“I’d rather say it to Kel,” Ledger gave a mock shudder. “The Royal Consort gives me the creeps sometimes. Dude seems like he could kill you at the snap of—”
“Zane.” Someone tugged on the sleeve of his black dress shirt, cutting Ledger off.
“It’s rude to interrupt, little girl.” Ledger’s eyes narrowed on the woman still pinching the silk material at Zane’s elbow and then seemed to place her. “Arlet, right? Girl never knows when to quit.” That last part was mumbled, seemingly meant for himself before Ledge walked away to join a group at one of the pool tables.
“Can I help you?” Zane asked, not bothering to shake Arlet off. People didn’t often boldly reach out to him, but he’d long since gotten over having boundaries regarding physical touch.
